If you're enjoying this story, please consider voting with your gems and leaving a review to help other readers find it. Also, if you haven't already read it, I highly recommend going back and reading my book "Second Chance Luna." There are parts of this storyline that will make more sense if you've read that one as well. As always, I look forward to seeing your comments and hearing your theories about what will happen next! Much Love, Anja <3
RIEKA I had no idea what Aleksandr had planned for tonight, but if the last 24 hours was any indication, I knew I had a long night of pleasure ahead of me. My husband didn’t seem to be in any sort of a rush, so I relaxed and enjoyed his gentle touch. His hands trailed all over my body, but surprisingly not in a sexual way. It was so peaceful and relaxing that I worried I would fall asleep again and ruin whatever plans he had for later. As I tried to sit up to stay alert, Aleksandr softly repositioned me on the platform beside him and rolled me onto my stomach before he began massaging my arms, legs, and back. “I’m going to fall asleep if you keep this up.” I mumbled with my right cheek squished up against the soft surface. Aleksandr chuckled and then continued to massage my legs all the way up to my ass, which was exposed from the thong bottoms I was wearing. His hands were so strong, and he seemed totally focused on the task of getting me completely relaxed. As I was finally a
Chapter 8: The Aftermath ALEKSANDR Rieka would’ve had to bite pretty hard with human teeth to draw blood, but the evidence is there. I look back at my mate just as her eyes flutter open to find mine. Her ice blue eyes are glowing the most beautiful color I’ve ever seen. She still smells human. This must be a sign that the moon goddess heard my plea and blessed us by allowing Rieka to complete the bond. Rieka is a vision of perfection. As she lay naked underneath me, her short hair wild with the evidence of our lovemaking, I can’t imagine anything more beautiful. She doesn’t even seem surprised by her own actions. She’s cool, calm, and collected. I can feel her peace and contentment through the completed mate bond. While I’m busy staring at her in awe, Rieka simply smiles up at me, then pulls me down for another passionate kiss. It’s as if the bond has intensified everything. Her scent is intoxicating and overwhelming, her lips taste the sweetest they ever have, and my bo
RIEKA How could this be?! I didn’t speak out loud, but somehow Aleksandr heard my thoughts. I’m not a wolf, I’m human. This shouldn’t be possible… Then again, we don’t really know much about what is and isn’t possible, since having a human mate is so rare. Aleksandr could tell that I was shaken, and he was trying to find out what happened, but I was too stunned to explain. When I finally told him that I hadn’t spoken, his mouth dropped open as well. Then he cursed and turned back to the stove to move the omelets that were starting to burn. When he turns back to me, there is a hint of a smile on his lips. “I heard you… as clearly as if you were speaking to me. You’re sure you didn’t say that out loud?” I’m still too stunned to speak, so I shake my head and Aleksandr mouth breaks into a wide smile and his face lights up with a look of pure joy and delight. He rushes over, wraps his arms around me, and lifts me as he spins and laughs like a child. “This is incredible! Try it again!
RIEKA The tension between wanting to find my kids and wanting to check on Drea was weighing me down, so when Aleksandr confirmed that they were safe with his mom, but not ready for us yet, I agreed to go visit Drea at the pack hospital first. I’ve been away from my kids for 2 weeks, so another 45 minutes won’t hurt anything, right? While Ivan shifted into his wolf and took off through the forest, Aleksandr and I jumped back in the car to head to the hospital. After shifting the car into drive, he laced his fingers with mine to hold me as he drove. “You’ll see the kids soon, don’t worry.” He said as he lifted my hand to kiss my fingers. “I know,” I nodded, “I just missed them.” He didn’t say anything else, but I could tell he was mind-linking someone. I assume it was someone at the hospital who could give him some sort of update. While looking out the window watching trees pass by, I remembered that I no longer felt the butterflies under my skin when Aleksandr and I touched. I
ALEKSANDR A new pack member is always a celebration, but a pup for my beta couple is definitely a joyous occasion. As soon as we entered the room Dustin and Drea looked up with beaming smiles. My eyes were drawn to the small bundle in Drea’s arms, and I was immediately filled with a sense of protection and love for my best friend’s child. The thing I wasn’t prepared for was how hard it would be to watch my best friend become a father knowing that I would never experience that with my own flesh and blood child. But I love Rieka more than anything, and I would never make her feel guilty for not wanting more children when she already has four of her own. They might not be my flesh and blood, but I love them as if they were my own, and four is more than any wolf has ever been blessed with. The moon goddess just blessed me in a different way than other males. Releasing my m
ALEKSANDR I couldn’t believe those pups had the audacity to harass my son! I’ve never felt this level of protectiveness towards a pup before, but the moment I heard that others were giving him a hard time, I wanted to bear my fangs and show them who they were messing with. Alex might not be my blood, but his is my son, and I will not tolerate anyone disrespecting him. Rieka handled it much better than I expected. I thought I would have to calm her and reassure her that he was safe here among wolves, but she just took in the information and then, she actually smiled when my mom finished explaining what happened. Jara is a good kid. I don’t know her or her family very well, but I want to make sure she is honored for her character. I’ll have to figure out a way to do it that she and her parents both appreciate and approve of. Not everyone likes public recognition, and I know these things go over much better when you consider the person being honored. Rieka and I walk into the di
RIEKA Taking a seat next to Aria, she pretends not to notice me, so I scoot my stool closer to hers and wrap my arm around her while the other kids are too busy chatting and eating to pay attention. “What’s the matter, Ari? I whisper in her ear to avoid drawing the attention of the other kids. “Nothing.” She sulks. This is her typical response. She always makes me press is a little before she’ll open up. “Did you have a rough day at school?” She stares at the counter in front of her and doesn’t respond, so I press in a little more. “Was someone unkind to you today?” She still doesn’t speak, but she shakes her head. I know Ace was having trouble with some boys in his class, maybe she heard something that upset her. “Was someone unkind to one of your siblings?” She shakes her head again, and I’m at a loss for what the problem could be, so I pull her in tighter for a hug and kiss the top of her head. “Well, then what’s wrong? You know you can always talk to me, right?” She no
ALEKSANDRStanding in a small room with Silas chained to the wall, I grin.Now that his pack has dissolved and he’s no longer the alpha of anything, he reeks of rogue.“So, I hear you have something you’d like to share with me.”Silas looks terrible. He’s thinner than he was when we’d captured him a few months ago. His muscles have begun to shrink, his cheeks are hollow, dark circles under his eyes make him look like he hasn’t slept in weeks, and he’s filthy.Of course, we don’t care if he’s clean or not. Rogues smell bad anyway, so what’s the point of allowing them to bathe? It’s a waste of water if you ask me.Silas grunts but doesn’t meet my eyes.“I’ve been told that once I give you this information, I’ll be allowed to go, as long as I never come back near this region.”Snorting his stench from my nostrils, I laugh without humor. “That depends on what type of information you give us. Tell me what you know, and then I’ll decide your fate.”He’s quiet for a minute.“Hey, if yo
ALEKSANDRAs eager as I was to see Rieka, my mother had already made it clear that she was stable, and Dustin, my best friend and my Beta, was awake!I turned down the hall towards the room where Drea and little Link had been staying with him.It was a joy to hear his voice as I approached the room.Although I am the alpha and this is my pack house, I didn’t want to walk in and interrupt the moment this family was reunited.I slowed in the hallway as I approached the door, and as I raised my hand to knock, Dustin’s voice broke through my mind.‘You don’t need to knock Alpha!’Laughing, I lowered my hand to grab the handle and open the door.I’m not usually an emotional male, but when I saw Dustin sitting up in bed with Drea beside him and Link in his arms, my vision blurred from the tears welling up in my eyes.“It’s good to see you up!” I smiled“It’s good to be up!” He answered with a twinkle in his eye.“What happened? How did you get out of that?”“Jacinda released me.” Dustin
EMMETT A game? I turned to look at the alpha and, on the surface, he looked bored, but there was something in his eye that felt like a warning. He’s planning something. If I want to figure out what it is, I need to play along. Who knows, maybe I do have some special abilities that this crazy little she-wolf can help me unlock. “Okay,” I smiled cockily, “How do we play?” “Oh, yay! This will be fun!” Devan jumped up and down excitedly. There was something very child-like about her. It seemed odd, but then again, she was working with an interesting pack, so who was I to judge her behavior. “We can’t play here. There isn’t enough space,” she grinned, “Follow me.” Without waiting for a response, she turned and disappeared between the curtains. Slowly, I stepped forward, attempting to appear confident but unbothered to rush. I still couldn’t get a good read on this alpha and I was unsure if he expected me to listen to Devan and do as she said or wait for his instructions. Whe
EMMETTStartled by the sound, I spun around to see a petite female with wild, curly red hair standing next to the curtain that framed the shadows beyond.She was wearing a bright, cherry-red pantsuit with a white blouse and black heels. Her clothes looked much too clean and professional to be in a place like this, however, her wild, unkempt hair and pale, almost translucent, skin fit perfectly with the vibe of this underground labyrinth.She was pretty enough, albeit very small for a wolf. The things that unnerved me though, were her eyes. Framed with dark makeup, they were such a light grey that they almost looked like they had been drained of life itself. There was a vacancy in her gaze that made me feel like she wasn’t fully here.I realized I was staring, and a slow, devious smirk made its way across her red lips.“It’s been a long time since I saw another red wolf,” her voice was higher than I expected, but not childlike.“This is Devan,” the alpha gestured towards the female
ALEKSANDR As I rushed towards the house that I’d been told was where the mother of the pup lived, my natural instinct was to scent the air. I knew that Jacinda didn’t have a detectable scent, but that didn’t stop my wolf from searching for her with every sense he possessed. Glancing through a window as I approached the house, I thought I saw two women standing inside. I rushed to the door and thought about shifting, but Jacinda had already had me in compromising situations too many times before, so I remined in my wolf form to avoid being naked in front of her. My weight slammed the door open with such a force that it hit the wall and I heard a loud crack. I would apologize later and make sure the door was properly repaired. Turning in the room, eyes searching, I saw a she-wolf standing there in shock with her mouth open, but there was no one else with her. I opened my mind through the pack link to the she-wolf before me. ‘Where is she?’ I demanded. ‘I know I saw her through
ALEKSANDRPanic, anger, and fear flowed through my body like I’d never felt it before. Why does the moon goddess taunt me. All the strength and power I possess as an alpha, and it’s all worthless. I hated that my mate was once again in danger, and there was literally NOTHING I could do to save her.Here I am, one of the most powerful alphas in the world, and I’m powerless to save and protect my own mate.Leaving my mother with Rieka, I had to move. I had to do something, to take action.Flinging the door to the pack house open, and smelling the forest outside, I immediately shift into my wolf and took off towards the homes of the pack members. I only had one idea left for who could help, and as much as I didn’t want to go there, I was desperate.The challenge was how to find her. Jacinda has a skill for staying hidden when she doesn’t want to be bothered, but she had to know what was going on.With only one idea of how to find her, I went to the only place I thought she would be
ALEKSANDR After several minutes of trying to rouse Rieka without success, I began to panic. My natural instinct was to shake her harder to wake her, but I knew that wouldn’t help. I would be extremely frustrated with myself if I ever hurt her, but even more so at a time like this when she was unconscious. ‘Mom, something is wrong with Rieka!’ I linked, ‘Please come to our room immediately!’ ‘I’ll be there in three minutes,’ she responded promptly. ----- I was pacing the room growling to myself when the door opened, and my mother flicked the lights on before rushing over to the bed. Lightly placing the back of her hand over Rieka’s forehead she asks, “How long has she been like this?” “I just came in and found her like this about 10 minutes ago. What is going on?” My mother remained silent as she examined my mate. Then she clasped both of Rieka’s hands together, closed her eyes, and bowed her head until her forehead touched Rieka’s. I watched in awe as my mother began to ra
I'm so sorry that I didn't post this sooner to keep you all updated, but my mental load is streched beyond capactity right now and I am forced to take a short break for both my mental and physical health. I will do my best to keep writing over the holidays and will continue publishing in January as we come to an end for this novel. You all have been so patient, understanding, and supportive of me over the last year as my family has faced some MAJOR changes and challenges, I promise you will not be disapointed with the ending to this story. I'm just sorry that it's being delayed. Check back by Wednesday January 3rd for more updates! Much Love,Anja
JACINDA I couldn’t believe how much Maeve was opening up to me and sharing with me. The more I learned about this alpha, the more I wanted to end him, but I didn’t dare interrupt her story. “I was doing everything I could to be cooperative, to make him and the guards trust me. My pregnancy was easy and even though I knew the alpha didn’t care about me, he was very interested in the pup I carried, and he visited me regularly. He had the pack doctor monitor my pregnancy very closely to see how strong the pup was.” “Before I gave birth, I started having recurring dreams of me and a baby girl. I would be holding her, and she would smile and giggle, but then the alpha would show up, and she would begin crying. The alpha always wanted to hold her, but she would just cry louder, so he would get frustrated and hand her back to me.” “A few weeks later, the alpha left the territory. I didn’t know where he was going but I knew he’d be gone for at least a week. He left the doctor with s
RIEKA The moment I stepped into the space between the curtains, I was enveloped in cold darkness. I couldn’t see a thing, and besides the cold I could only feel the ground beneath my feet. Slowly shuffling my feet forward, feeling for a drop or a wall, I pushed myself to keep going. After moving straight ahead a few feet, my toes felt something warm and I knew I must have found the other side. I reached my hands forward and my fingers felt the warmth as well. One bold step and I found myself in a small warm room that looked vaguely similar to my mate’s office. There was a desk where the alpha was sitting comfortably; his chair reclined, and his feet propped up on the desk. There were two chairs in front of the desk, but Emmett was standing beside them rather than sitting. This space was darker than the large room we’d just come from, so I stayed close to curtain hoping I would not be noticed by Emmett. “Tell me, red wolf, what is it that you’re hoping to gain by coming here?